USA: Utah mine owner permanently closes down site

After weeks of failed rescue efforts to reach six miners trapped since August 6, the owner of the Crandall Canyon Mine said on Wednesday (August 22) they are preparing to close down the site. In an emotional statement, Bob Murray said it was time to permanently close down the site which he calls an "evil mountain." "After the rescue of the [rescue] miners on the evening of August 16th, the next morning I said to Mr. Richard Stickler that I'm submitting the papers to permanently close this mine .. to seal it.. and it will never operate again." "I will never come back to that evil mountain that's still alive," he added. Six miners were trapped when seismic "bump" collapsed part of the mine over two weeks ago. All efforts to rescue the six have met with failure, including the main effort which caved-in when pressure from the mountain above caused rock and coal to explode from the walls of the mine. Three rescue miners were killed in that accident on August 16. Five holes have been dug to try and reach the miner. Workers are preparing to drill a sixth hole to attempt to locate the trapped miners. There will be no seventh. "This has been a tremendous tragedy for them and I have total empathy and sympathy for them. Don't forget, too, the nine heroes that went in Thursday night. That some gave their lives, three..six serious injured. Let's not forget them too. I was in there, my hands were on them as we brought them out. I don't know how you get closure. We place it in the hands of the Lord," Murray said. The Crandall Canyon Mine is on a high desert plateau some 140 miles (225 km) south of Salt Lake City, in what is known as Utah's "castle country" because of the towering rock spires that dot the bleak landscape.

ITN Source | August 23, 2007

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